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Froo down the path, saw a feords pass between her and the stranger, and then the maid come back She waited breathless

"Yes, miss It is a Mr Cathcart He said he would wait for you"

Maggie nodded

"I will go," she said "Remember, please do not say a word to anyone It may be bad news, as I said"

As she walked through the hanize that the news must be really serious; and that beneath all her serenity she had been aware of its possibility So intense noas that anxiety--though perfectly formless in its details--that all other faculties seeination as to what it meant; she could form no plan, alternative or absolute, as to whathad happened, and that she would know the facts in a few seconds

About fifty yards up the turning she saw the old gentle He was in his London clothes, silk-hatted and spatted, and ruous picture there in the deep-banked lane that led upwards to the village On either side towered the trees, still leafless, yet bursting with life; and overhead chattered the birds against the tender

He lifted his hat as she ca

"Tell ie Deronnais"

He turned to walk by her side, saying nothing for a moment

"The facts or the interpretation?" he asked in his brisk manner "I will just say first that I have seen hi"

"Oh! the facts," she said "Quickly, please"

"Well, he is going to Mr Morton's chambers this afternoon; he says"

"What?"

"One moment, please Oh! he is not seriously ill, as the world counts illness He thought he was just very tired thisI went round to call on him He was in bed at half-past ten when I left hiht the old man mad The relief was so intense that she flushed scarlet, and stopped dead in the middle of the road

"You caht--"

He looked at her gravely, in spite of the incessant twinkle in his eyes She perceived that this old rey beard smoothly down